"Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Front matter

°o

Instead of placing the author's photograph on this page, as is customary, I have given this place to nny little nephew, Wilbert, who is more worthy than I, and who is now asleep, "safe in the arms of Jesus." (The reason will be nnade known later on.)

PETER ALBERT PETRIE.

CHAPTER I. THhi Eternal

Unchangeable Laws - -

-» 9

CHAPTER n.

Prayer

___.__>„_- 48

CHAPTER m.

Centering Our Affections — -^ .-^ .„„„_„_„ 58

CHAPTER IV.

The Power of Our Beliefs - „„-.„-_«^ -„_„ 67

CHAPTER y. **Ye Must b:. Born Again" _._ „„_. 72

CHAPTER YI.

Christianity and Creeds „. --.108

CHAPTER Vn.

Food for the Body and Soul .= . 1 „. 161

CHAPTER Vin.

Vocation _^~ 174

CHAPTER IX.

A Prophecy — -,= ., 196

TO THE TRUTH-SEEKERS

OF

This book is affectionately dedicated by your humble servant and

brother^ who is not ashamed to own you as his brother or

sister of the great family of God, No matter if the

outside of your ' 'cuf^ is blacky or white ^ or yellow ^

or red^ or brown, if only the inside of the

' 'cup and the platter^^ is pure and clean.

PREFACR,

The purpose of this work is to show, that there are latent powers within every soul. Powers which God has created and implanted in every one, of which we are to use for the upbuilding of his cause and kingdom; powers of the soul which are lying dormant, of which we know little at present and of which few have ever dreamed; powers of the soul which are used to direct others to go and claim their true estate and right inheritance that belongs to every one who is a seeker of truth, love and life ; powers of the soul that will guide us into all truth, and do away with all blind beliefs and fogyisms, with which the soul will not allow itself to become satisfied, nor anything that is short of truth and love; powers of the soul of which if all would know, they would be glad to come to Jesus, who is ''the way^ the truth and the life.''

Powers of the soul which bring forth a feeling and love for the whole human family— be they rich, clean and tidy, or poor, dirty and ragged ; or be they educated, refined, loving, or ignorant, wayward or hateful. It matters not if they are white, red, yellow or black ; for the wrong acts or deeds of any of these, the latent powers of the soul step in and say, * ' Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Please give them another chance; only one more, if not * seventy times seven.' "

The latent powers of the soul reveal that the best prayer for the repenting sinner is that of the poor

8 Preface.

publican—** God be merciful to me a sinner." These powers also reveal that he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone at his neighbors.

The latent powers of the soul likewise reveal the fact that I can be an active member of any church, sing in the choir, be a member of all its different organizations, and do all these things with the best of my ability, yet lack one thing.

The latent powers of the soul also reveal that Religion and Science are twin sisters instead of opposites or enemies. Both their foundations are based upon law or truth. Both are used to help us get nearer to God ; for Jesus not only preached the truth, but demonstrated what he taught.

Are you living as peacefully and happily as you would like to live? Do you feel you are after something you know not what? Would you like to know more of the things that bring contentment?

If so, please read what I have written and then turn to the Book that settles all trouble. Read the New Testament first, that you may understand the Old.

If I can say anything or do anything to show others that they can not travel life's journey alone, the purpose of the author will have been accomplished.

Therefore I present this work to those who know little or nothing of their God-given powers and souls' welfare; to assist those who have learned something about it and wish to know more; and to supply a handy reference to those who know it all.

The Author.

Moon Run, Pa., January, 1903.

"Ye Shall Know the Truth, and the Truth Shall Make You Free."

CHAPTER I.

No better investment of your spare time

Than to grasp the meaning of each little line.

Hear the truth of this little rhyme,

Of all the sin and curse and crime

That has been committed in days gone by

By men and women; and I'll tell you why —

Because Ignorance has said:

*'Let might be right — And right be slight (neglect) — And slight be sight — And sight be smite — And smite be fight — And fight be life— And life be hell or strife:"

And all on account Of the great paramount —

Because men and women neglect light and lose sight —

That they close their "fists," and pull the strings too tight.

The males pull the strings of the fingers till they cnrve.

And the draw-string of the heart that it will not swerve.

The females in this line are generous, far more;

But they pull on the strings till their sides are sore!

Oh, would that we all let loose of these strings! —

Oh, what health and happiness, when free from these things!

Have you read the Preface? If not, please read it

that you may understand and get all the benefits.

It is said, **A11 truth must pass through three stages.'' First, we say, it conflicts with the law or Bible; next we try to crucify and cover it up; lastly, after we see we can not bury truth, or keep it buried, and our ignorance and superstitions roll away, we begin to say, ''I have always believed it." Yes—

"Truth crushed to earth shall rise again;" But error, crushed, sinks deep within.

There is good in every one, if it were only allowed to come forth. It is often crushed out or withheld in one way or the other.

As this work treats on the powers of the soul, in this chapter I wish to speak first of the contentment and happiness that is derived from a better knowledge of the laws of health, and how to heal and be healed.

No one has, in and of himself or herself, the power to heal; all is done by and with the compliance and application of the unchangeable laws of God— or, as Jesus so lovingly designated it, '^My Father which is in heaven, he doeth the work."

Therefore, in order that we may have life, peace, health, happiness and prosperity, we must learn how to get back into harmony with the laws of our being.

(If some of you should get your feet wet while walking through the dewy pages of this book, causing you to become chilly, I say travel on, and before you reach the end, the Son of truth, faith and love will shine so bright that some of you will be hot enough ; some warm enough ; many comfortable ; and a few miserable.)

The only way to become perfect, even as our Father in heaven is perfect (which no one living to-day is), is to learn more of Jesus, the way-shower who said, *'I came that ye may have life, and have it more abundantly. " ^ ' Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ' '

It is a little of this truth which Jesus taught and demonstrated while here on earth that I wish to help make more plain to all those who are willing to hear of good thoughts, new thoughts, or rather old thoughts; for there is nothing new under the sun, or unknown to God; but there are a great many things unkno\Mi to us, or, in other words, many things yet unearthed or come to light. Everything, good and evil, shall be brought from under cover. Every heavenly and earthly thing shall some day be revealed.

Jesus says, ^'Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known." This saying of Jesus is like all the other sayings of his, having a twofold meaning. For instance, the temporal meaning is, that, no matter whatsoever we do, be it good or evil, it will leak out one way or the other and generally at a time and place where and when we least expect it. Remember our SINS will find us out. ^^A murderer can not keep his secret." He may be able to keep it a long time, but it will come out. The truth of all matters will come out, even if it does take centuries of time; but it is coming, and always will come until the Lord's Prayer is fulfilled.

The spiritual meaning of this same verse is, after we have stripped ourselves from all falsehood and

12 'Te Shall Enow the Truth, cmd

know what *' truth" means and is we shall be free. **For when the Spirit of truth has made thee free, thou art free indeed." The entire meaning of this verse is, there is nothing in heaven and earth that shall not some day be revealed or made known.

I have said before, in the Preface of this book, that it is my heart 's desire that you will first read the New Testament after reading this book. The reason will be made plain to you by referring to the sayings of Jesus and the Apostles themselves. I am not going to give you my words for doing so ; but will use my words to direct you to the Christ idea, mind, thought, Spirit.

The Apostles speak very plainly that the laws which were given by Moses are very good; but they are not complete. They lack in some things, which Jesus came and fulfilled and made complete.

The prophets prophesied of one who should come and \ show us the way back to the Father's house from • which we all have strayed.

Notice, in the following sayings, how strict Jesus is in some things, and how liberal in others:

^'Ye have heard that it was said by them of old times. Thou shalt not kill: and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment :

''But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca [vain fellow], shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say. Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."

*^Ye have heard that it was said by them of old times, Thou shalt not commit adultery :

'^But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

''It hath been said. Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement :

''But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery; and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced, committeth adultery. ' '

"Ye have heard that it hath been said. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth [just as the Golden Eule is even practiced to-day in this old rhyme,

'Tip for tap, butter for fat;

If you kin my dog, I'U kill your cat']:

"But I say unto you. That ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.''

"Ye have heard that it hath been said. Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy. [Some more of the corrupt seed.]

"But I say unto you^ Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefuUy use you, and persecute you;

"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven : for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.''

"For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

^*And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

**Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

Jesus speaks very plainly to the multitudes and church people concerning John the Baptist :

''What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken in the wind?

''But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

"But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

"For this is he of whom it is written. Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee."

"Verily I say unto you. Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist [not one in the Old Testament is greater than John] : notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he [or, he— Christmust increase, but I— John— must decrease].

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."

"For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

"And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come."

"He that hath ears to hear let him hear.

"But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

''And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced ; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented."

Listen to the severe criticism which Jesus has made upon a certain class of people of the Old Testament times. Who were they?

''All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. [This may seem a hard saying, but remember what he said to Peter at one time, "Satan, get thee hence!"]

' ' I am the door : by me if any man will enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly."

Jesus, before he made his ascension, said unto his disciples :

"These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets^ and in the psalms, concerning me."

Whose words would naturally be the clearest to us for our guidance— the words of those who prophesied, or the teaching of Him who came as the fulfillment of those prophecies? I have answered this question already, when I said, read the New Testament first, that you may understand the Old. "For the first shall be last, and the last first."

Now listen to the apostles for an answer:

16 'Te Shall Know tie Truth, and

** Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and rea'ching forth unto those things which are before,

*'I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

*^Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you."

'^If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

* ' Seeing then we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

*^And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

'^But their minds were blinded; for unto this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament ; which vail is done away in Christ.

*^But even unto this day, when Moses is read the vail is upon their hearts.

^'Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

' ' Now the Lord is that Spirit : and where the Spirit of the Lord is., there is liberty.

''But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

"And by him, all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."

^'For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

Now, settle it in your heart and mind that you will not be driven about by every wind and doctrine; but build your ''house" upon Christ, the truth, the rock; and by so doing you will build a heavenly foundation that shall have xo sand beneath it.

The winds and rains and hails of public opinion shall beat against this house ; but it will not fall, because it is built upon the truth, the Rock Christ Jesus.

The good old poet had the same thought as the apostles when he wrote :

"In the world's broad field of battle, In the bivouac of life, Be not like dnmb driven cattle — Be a hero in the strife!

"Trust no future, howe'er pleasant; Let the dead past bury its dead!

Act, act in the living present.

Heart within, and God o'erhead!"

The only man and the best man that ever trod this globe who thoroughly understood the eternal, unchangeable laws of God, and taught the same to his disciples, was Jesus Christ. And the more we know of these laws, which have no variableness nor shadow of turning, and can get back into compliance and harmony with them, the sooner we will be free.

Remember, these laws of truth and love are in operation the same to-day as when Jesus was upon the earth ; but our ignorance and superstitions hold us from complying perfectly with them. They are here ! They are tt 'Te Shall Enow the Truth, and

ours ; but these laws will not operate for us as long as we will not bring ourselves into harmony with them.

The question now arises, What must I do in order that I may be benefited by these eternal laws of our Father which is in heaven?

Our first step is, ''He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

In order that we may please God, we must listen to that small voice within us, of which Jesus has said, * ' Neither shall they say, Lo here ! or, lo there ! for behold, the kingdom of God is within you.''

It is this kingdom, or small voice, that is within us, that we are to trust, to learn to rely upon in everything. The great trouble with us people of to-day is, we rely too much, or nearly altogether, on our senses and cents. Knov/ ye not that through our senses we can only obtain relative knowledge ? Oh, how often do our senses fool us or mislead us to the truth and facts of reality !

Take, for instance, the movements of the heavenly bodies. Do not our eyes make us believe that the sun and the moon revolve around the earth? One is a reality and the other is not; yet the movements look the same to us. Does it not seem to us that the earth stands still and only the moon revolves around it, when, in reality, both are moving? Yes, our senses bring relative knowledge only.

We must rely henceforth and always, day by day, more and more on the intuitive side of our nature. We must learn to cultivate the avenues of the soul, and not the avenues of the senses.

Tli6 Truth Shall Make You Freer 19

When Jesus said, *'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect/' he meant that we can live a life as pure, and attune, as it were, the ears of our soul to hear the voice of the Infinite as well as he did, while he was on the earth. You know Jesus said, '^I speak not of myself, but that which I hear of my Father, that speak I."

Let me illustrate to make these thoughts plain to you.

Take, for instance, Marconi's wireless telegraphy. Marconi has believed and proved to the world that there is a law of electro-atmospherical-current vibration. And by his delicately constructed machine, he can both produce and receive these vibrations, and, of course, interpret them.

Now, dear reader, let me tell you what I believe and know to be true— God has constructed or created within us a '' machine," far grander and exceedingly more delicate in construction than that of Marconi's, which is the human mechanism or the harp of a thousand strings, yea, a million strings; upon which the soul would gladly play and do her perfect work, were it not for the carnal hindrances. There is also for this '^ machine" a thought atmosphere, from which can be sent and received what we may call thought vibrations.

Now let me show you how the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ proved that there are such laws, and especially the law of thought vibration.

For illustration we will say, The all-wise Creator in heaven has, or rather is, both the sending and receiving ^ * instrument, ' ' and Jesus here on earth, who is without sin, has the intuitive side of his nature so completely developed that his soul can see and hear the musical thought vibrations coming direct from the Father, and can easily interpret them. Christ Jesus, in this position,, is the receiving instrument. Now, whatsoever he hears coming from the Father, he transfers or speaks to his disciples, and to the blind scribes and Pharisees. No wonder they said, .^' Never man spake like this man.'' For Jesus was the only man who could interpret every word and sound perfectly; because he is the truth, the way, the love and the life. Moses, David and all the early prophets could catch the voice of the Infinite, but not interpret it so clearly, because they were not without sin.

Therefore, in order that we also may catch a few of these daily vibrations of thought from the Book or direct, and be able to correctly interpret them, we must become humble as little children. '^For if ye will not become humble as little children, ye shall in nowise enter into the kingdom of God." To such who will not become humble, Jesus says: ^^Ye are they whichjustify yourselves before men ; but God knoweth your hearts, for the things which are highly esteemed among men, are abomination in the sight of God." Also, '* Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."

Notice, I am not going to hold out to you or offer you some great inducements to come to the truth ; and then hold them so high and so far from you in this life that you can not partake of them now, like some of the so-called divines do : which is exactly on the same principle as a life insurance policy; which is a burden to the one who carries it through life, but a blessing to

The Truth Shall MaJce You Free/' 21

him after he dies, and a legacy for those he leaves behind.

No, I am not going to do such a thing as that; I shall show you how you can enjoy the benefits to-day and every day, if you will listen closely to the remainder of this work. Moreover, I shall speak the truth and make it as plain as I can, regardless of public opinion and pharisaical, blind beliefs.

Now we are ready to take up the study of such laws as, when complied with, will bring us into health, happiness, etc. These laws come not our way! No, not one inch ! We must come or go their way !

Let me tell you that our mind has absolute control over the body. Especially that part of the mind which *^ never slumbers, never sleeps,'' but keeps the blood flowing jQn in its regular course, from the day we drew, our first breath; when you and I became a living being.

The mind or the soul is the man. It is that same man or mind which was also in Christ Jesus. It is the inner man which is ^^ created in the image and likeness of God." A mass of bones and flesh and brain is not the man, but is the temple wherein this unseen man dwells. The true or real man is ''the kingdom of God within you." It is this, man which should be set free that he may run and glorify the Father. It is this man who dwells round about in the breast, more than in the brain. This little man is a man of the heart.

Now let me take you down to the very roots of this tree of truth, or God's law, in regard to our health, and allow me to begin unfolding the truth by referring again to the meek and lowly Nazarene, when he said:

*'Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery :

''But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

Now, why did Jesus make so strict a statement? Why was not, ''Thou shalt not commit adultery,'' enough ? The reason is this : In the generative organs of the male and female is not only produced that which we call seed-germs, but, besides this^ in these same organs is produced a substance which rebuilds the wasted parts of the body; thereby renewing us with health and vigor. Now, if we belong to the adulterous kind, we are wasting our substance with riotous living. As I have said before, the mind has complete control of the body. Therefore, if you let your mind dwell and think upon nothing but lustful pleasures, you are creating in your body, unconsciously, this seed-germ, which, after it is created, is of no further use to the body but to be cast out; and this is one of the causes of so many weak and debilitated people.

The remedy for this trouble is this: Whosoever is a victim of this excessive indulgence, either in thought or deed, or both, is answered by Jesus when he said to the woman who was caught in an adulterous act, ' ' Go, sin no more ! ' ' Or, go throw not away this vital, health-giving substance, but allow it to take the other inward avenue and rebuild your body.

It is a deplorable fact, an awful shame, for such as are professing Christians, to have the brass to stand up in the different churches and offer long prayers to be heard and seen of men, and then turn right around

The Truth Shall Male You Freer 23

and engage in the lusts of the houses of prostitution ; or, even worse with some, take their lady friend to a summer resort for a few days and register at the hotel as man and wife.

Can we honestly say of such that they have the love and truth of Christ in them ? I trow not ! To such I say, look in the looking-glass— the seventh chapter of the Book of Proverbs— that you may see yourself; and also as you should be seen.

To such I say, repent ye, and sin no more : for fear a worse thing come upon you even in this life; and for fear of the unwelcome plaudit, ^^ Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity ; I never knew you ! ' '

Married people are not exempt from the transgression of this law, even though the Bible does say, ** Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed is undefiled;" yet excessive indulgences, in any way or form, come under this law, '^Be ye temperate in all things;" or, in plainer words, '*Act not the hog in anything!'' I am exceedingly sorry that I must speak with such plainness of speech, but the signs of the times fully demand it.

The chief subject of conversation, or what seems to have an awful grip upon the minds of many people, is the satisfying of their sensual emotions. There are many shocking deeds done, even by some of the best dressed people as well as by the poorly clad ones. Yea, and the grievous part for them is, the Lord our God knoweth them all.

When God divinely established the marriage institution, the sole purpose of this law was (and is) that man and wife were and are to be of one mind, one heart and one flesh; for their happiness and companionship; and the chief end for God's glory and the perpetuation of the race, and not for excessive indulgences.